A Pastoral Word. . . Letters from Our Father
Pastor Kevin Freeman
June 6, 2024
Nick and Victoria Keenan were a happy, young couple living in southeast England. In 2019, they knew the blessing of parenthood when they welcomed their twin girls into the world. Shortly thereafter, Nick began experiencing speech problems and learned that a brain tumor from a few years prior had reemerged. Nick lost his battle to cancer when his daughters were only seventeen months old.
Knowing that he would soon pass, Nick decided to leave something for his daughters. He wrote each of them thirty years’ worth of birthday cards. For example, not long ago, Rose and Sophia received cards for their fourth birthday. Their father’s message read: “You’ll be big girls now and going to big school soon. Be brave and look after your sister. Lots of love, Daddy”
Though these young ladies will surely encounter difficulties and grief about their father, the net emotional value of these loving messages from their father is incalculable. They will be reminded each year that they were loved by their father who wanted the best for them. I imagine them reading and re-reading these cards when they long for connection with their daddy. Those messages will bring them hope during hopeless times.
We have a heavenly Father who has sent us messages of His love in His written Word. We find hope, comfort, instruction, and grace in these words from our Lord. What reminders does God give us in Scripture that the Bible was written for our good? Here are a few:
“…that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
“…meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).
That last one may sound familiar, since it is part of our benediction. It also leads us to question ourselves. Does God’s Word dwell us you richly? You might ask, what evidence have I shown in the past day, week, or month, that I am saturated in the loving messages found in God’s Word?
Immerse yourself in these letters from our Father. See how they change your heart. Watch as they spill forth from you and bless others around you.
Your partner in ministry,
Kevin Freeman
Source: https://www.zenger.news/2023/08/02/dying-dad-writes-30-years-of-birthday-cards-for-twin-daughters/
Image in news article
Knowing that he would soon pass, Nick decided to leave something for his daughters. He wrote each of them thirty years’ worth of birthday cards. For example, not long ago, Rose and Sophia received cards for their fourth birthday. Their father’s message read: “You’ll be big girls now and going to big school soon. Be brave and look after your sister. Lots of love, Daddy”
Though these young ladies will surely encounter difficulties and grief about their father, the net emotional value of these loving messages from their father is incalculable. They will be reminded each year that they were loved by their father who wanted the best for them. I imagine them reading and re-reading these cards when they long for connection with their daddy. Those messages will bring them hope during hopeless times.
We have a heavenly Father who has sent us messages of His love in His written Word. We find hope, comfort, instruction, and grace in these words from our Lord. What reminders does God give us in Scripture that the Bible was written for our good? Here are a few:
“…that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
“…meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).
That last one may sound familiar, since it is part of our benediction. It also leads us to question ourselves. Does God’s Word dwell us you richly? You might ask, what evidence have I shown in the past day, week, or month, that I am saturated in the loving messages found in God’s Word?
Immerse yourself in these letters from our Father. See how they change your heart. Watch as they spill forth from you and bless others around you.
Your partner in ministry,
Kevin Freeman
Source: https://www.zenger.news/2023/08/02/dying-dad-writes-30-years-of-birthday-cards-for-twin-daughters/
Image in news article
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